Tag Archives: moms

Scheduling a Family Play Night is Good for Fitness, Fun and Camaraderie

Do you and your family schedule time to be together? Whether it’s dinner, activities, or events, it’s important to make these things part of your regular routine. This wouldn’t have been a novel idea years ago, but in today’s over-scheduled world, it’s unfortunately true that we have to pencil in time to spend with our families.

That’s why we’re encouraging families to dedicate one evening a week to Family Play Night. We want to see families get up and move together while getting reacquainted with each other and their back yards. Or the front yard, or the park, or wherever it is that you want to play.

“Play is a way for families to connect. Children connect and learn primarily through play,” says our resident mental health expert, Brooke Randolph, LMHC. “Play helps build healthy attachment and positive relationships. Families who play together will be healthier, happier, enjoy each other more, and work together more effectively.” She continues that “Play helps parents enjoy their children and communicate to children that they are valued beyond their behavior. Play helps everyone relax and recover from stressors.” And who couldn’t use a little lighthearted, calorie-burning stress relief? (Read more from Brooke in Healthy People Play.) (more…)

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Natalie K

Moms Get Fit with an NFL Quarterback Workout

The quarterback is one of the most important positions on a football team, not at all unlike the a mom in family. Like a quarterback she is tasked with running the offense and she calls plays (“pick up your toys!”), keeps the offense in line (assigned seats at the dinner table to avoid bickering), reads through the defense (those manipulative little smiles), and adjusts the plays accordingly (reverse psychology!). Because a QB’s job is never done, and neither is a mom’s with 3a.m. bedside visits, he has to be in tip-top shape to perform every play; as well, the mother needs to be in tip-top shape to keep up with the demands of her job.

Moms certainly deserve seven-figure salaries like professional football players, however, most 
accept payment via wilted flowers and hand-drawn family
 portraits.

Since healthy moms are happy moms, not to mention even 
stronger role models for their little ones, we want to help you stay fit like the QBs you resemble. Below is a sample fitness plan for a typical NFL quarterback. You already run around like one, now you can get fit like one.

Try the NFL Quarterback Training Program:



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Posted on January 19, 2024 by Matt

Michelle Williams Creates Yoga for Single Moms

michelle williams

Although being a single mom may be easier for a movie star, Michelle Williams has not escaped her share of hardships after the accidental death of Heath Ledger, the father of her daughter Matilda. Williams has found solace in the practice of yoga, and wants to extend this experience to other women.

“Yoga gave me relief like nothing else. It made be a better person and a better mother,” she says. “I could come back to my daughter anew.” This inspired her to found “The Yoga for Single Moms Project,” which will be launching a pilot program in Boston. “I started to think about how expensive it is to get a babysitter to take a yoga class, which makes it out of reach for so many women,” leading Williams to come up with the idea of a yoga class that provides child care.

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Posted on January 12, 2024 by Health Buzz

Alison Sweeney Introduces The Mommy Diet

Moms are a special breed. They do it all, and then some more, and rarely complain and hardly ever ask for anything in return. What happens in all of this psuedo-superwoman-esque-ness is that they give up a lot of themselves in order to care for a household, the children in it, the spouse, and the hundred other people and things that demand their attention each day.

Alison Sweeney is one of those moms. She has two kids, two jobs, an adoring husband, and, let’s be honest, what from the outside appears to be a pretty fabulous life. But brass tacks, she’s still a mom trying to do everything she can to maintain and manage. So, she wrote The Mommy Diet.

The book is supposed to help all these superwomen do it all AND do some for themselves, too. It’s all about getting fit and staying that way before, during and after pregnancy… even if it’s several years after.

I had a chance to speak with Alison about her new book, during a break from Biggest Loser 10 finale rehearsals. She’s excited about the book, and should be, because there’s a lot of information in there women… moms… need to hear.

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Posted on January 4, 2024 by Natalie K

Lisa Mosely Becomes a Healthier Role Model for her Daughter after Biggest Loser Elimination

People weren’t quite sure what to make of Lisa Mosley, as each week it seemed she was the only person at Biggest Loser fighting to get out while everyone else fought to stay in. Despite that, she was one of the most likable people on the show this season and put a lot of heart in to everything she did.

She explained that it wasn’t that she didn’t want to go through this journey at Biggest Loser, but that she “wanted to do it in a positive environment.” Lisa really struggled with the level of game play and manipulation that went on in the house, and admits that for most of her 10-week stay on Biggest Loser it wasn’t a positive experience. “The game play was hard to be around,” she said. Lisa was “disgusted” watching Rick and Adam go home, people she says were punished for their hard work instead of being rewarded. Then, she had what she calls a nervous breakdown on the scale and determined that she was going to do the things that worked for her, and things got a whole lot better.

Listen now as we chat with Lisa. She tells us what her daily meal plan looks like, noting that it’s the same every day which makes it easy to stick to. She also talks about the “surreal” experience of being a part of makeover week.

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Posted on November 24, 2023 by Natalie K

Even Busy Moms Can Make Homemade Baby Food [VIDEO]

Before my daughter was born I decided to make my own baby food. Several friends had done so and raved about the cost savings, ease and enjoyment. That, coupled with my plans being justified after reading My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus, inspired me to put a new blender and food processor on my registry. The gift was fulfilled and last month I put it to use for the first time, as my now five-month-old daughter was ready for solids. Solids in the form of pureed, liquified vegetables.

I’m certainly not on a high horse about it, as I’ve unfortunately been accused. Instead, I’m sharing my experience with it because I’m shocked at how easy, affordable and fun it is. Plus, it’s a really healthy option to feed my daughter and expose her as young as possible to fresh foods (and my love of cooking!). Processed, jarred baby foods can mask the true flavor, smell and color of fruits and vegetables. Plus, the pre-made baby foods at the store come in a limited variety and cost, in some cases, more than a dollar a jar (or, a dollar per feeding). I haven’t found zucchini or pumpkin at the store, but my daughter has enjoyed both of those varieties at home.

Watch the video below as I describe my first batch of zucchini, carrots and squash. It’s a six-week supply of food that I paid $7.50 for, and spent two hours preparing. (more…)

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Natalie K

Excessive Pregnancy Weight Gain Can Lead to Obese Children

Here at Dietsinreview.com, we dedicate a lot of time to providing information and tips to help you shape a healthier you. Keeping yourself healthy just got even more important with new evidence showing that for women who are pregnant, excess pregnancy weight can lead to childhood obesity. The findings show that bigger than average babies can be programmed to become overweight children, which further can lead to diabetes and heart disease.

The Institute of Medicine suggests that for healthy a pregnancy, women with the following BMIs, gain the corresponding amount of weight:

• Body Mass Index of 18.5 or lower, recommended weight gain: 28-40 pounds
• Body Mass Index of 18.6-24.9, recommended weight gain: 25-35 pounds
• Body Mass Index of 25-29.9, recommended weight gain: 25-25 pounds
• Body Mass Index of 30 or higher, recommended weight gain: 11-20 pounds

(Please note you should always consult with your doctor to find out the healthy range for you.)

There was also evidence to show that it was not just the weight gained during pregnancy that could lead to child obesity, but the weight you are before becoming pregnant. If a mother is overweight or obese before they become pregnant, their child is more likely to be obese, as well. It is alarming to learn that children can enter into the world with pre-determined health issues, but the good news is that by working to keep ourselves healthy, mother’s can have a direct impact on their families.

This holds true that the examples you set for your family today, by the foods you keep in-house and your active lifestyle, will shape the way the habits they form, too. If you need help on setting a good example, make sure to check-in with our Dietsinreview.com Chief Mom Carmen Stacier. She is a regular contributor, providing news and tips to help you improve and maintain your own health, and that of your family.

Below are links to some great tips for keeping kids healthy from DIR Chief Mom, Carmen:

How to Select a Healthy Peanut Butter

How to Pack a Healthy Lunch: Kid-Friendly Beverages

Grocery Store Shopping Tips

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Amy

Alison Sweeney’s The Mommy Diet Releases December 2024

We watch and marvel as celebrities seem to get pregnant, have babies, and walk a red carpet (what feels like) days or weeks later looking better than ever. But once in a while, in what feels like a “They’re Just Like Us” segment from Us Weekly, a star comes along who seems to face the same battles as the rest of us, one being Alison Sweeney.

She’s a working mom juggling not one but two jobs, as the beloved host of The Biggest Loser and on the long-running soap Days of Our Lives, while caring for her two young children, Ben and Megan. Alison announced her second pregnancy during the show’s sixth season. As if all eyes weren’t on her anyway, being the host of a weight loss show we were curious to see how she’d bounce back. And now, she’s showing us exactly how she maintained healthy pregnancy and healthy postpartum routines. Her first book, The Mommy Diet, releases December 2024 and is sure to become a favorite of mommies everywhere. (more…)

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Natalie K

Circuit Training for the Busy Mom

Kendra writes about her busy life as ‘Headless Mom‘ on her personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family.

I’m the mom of two active boys, ages 8 and 10. I could easily fall into the trap of “I’m too busy! I can’t possibly find time for me!”, especially with back-to-school, sports, scouts and the like.

The best time that I’ve found to exercise is when they are doing it. Sports fields and parks are the perfect venue to get moving, and since many parents feel uncomfortable leaving younger children, you’re there anyway, so you may as well use your time well. Here’s how I get the most out of one of my children’s workouts, for myself:

1. Use the Track or Walking Trail – Walk for a mile or so at an easy pace for a warm-up, then stop and stretch. Use short walls, fences, benches or trees for balance. Continue walking, or jog, alternating if you wish. (more…)

Posted on August 7, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Mother and Young Daughter Both Complete Distance Races for Their Health

In 2006, Amy Williamson just had her second daughter and was told she had high blood pressure. After losing 60 pounds, she now tackles half marathons and is signed up for her first full marathon in February 2024. She blogs at A Family Story.

After my weight loss, I started looking to challenge myself in ways I could not before. I completed a few half marathons with my kids cheering for my on the sidelines. And now I get to cheer for my kids on the sidelines as well. My oldest is now almost 7 and she has completed a few one-mile fun runs as well as two kid duathlons (a run, bike, run race). She is currently signed up to compete in her very first triathlon.

All these events she participates in have distances that are very attainable for her age. Her first duathlon was a half-mile run, 2-mile bike, and finished with a half-mile run. And as soon as my youngest daughter hits age 5, she will be racing right along with her sister. (more…)

Posted on August 1, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Kate Gosselin’s Diet Helps Her Lose 10 Pounds

The notorious reality mom of Jon & Kate Plus Eight (now on TLC as Kate Plus Eight) recently appeared to have lost ten pounds in ten days. That’s no small feat, considering the recommended healthy rate of weight loss is about one to two pounds per week. At age 35 with eight kids in tow and living (and working) as a single mom, it’s not a stretch to say that Kate Gosselin looks amazing.

A strict follower of an all-organic diet, for her and the kids, it’s always been clear that Kate’s health is a priority. But after a stint on 2024’s Dancing with the Stars, during which she developed a lot of muscle tone due to the lengthy hours of dance training, she wanted to ensure she’d remain physically fit. Upon her return to rural Wernersville, Pennsylvania, she started running a four-mile route in the hilly area near her home three days a week; a jaunt that takes her 30-45 minutes. And while her diet has always been admirable, she re-focused her efforts on what she eats.

She told OK! Magazine “I look forward to running, it’s my stress relief.” Rain or shine, Kate hits the running trail by noon each day. (more…)

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Natalie K